Delta of Venus closes after 33 years of food, music and community
The cafe is remembered for its many decades of serving the Downtown Davis area
By HANNAH OSBORN — city@theaggie.org
On Aug. 26, the beloved Davis establishment Delta of Venus announced its closure. Located near the UC Davis campus at 122 B Street, the cafe served as a hub for art and music for more than three decades.
The closure comes with the retirement of Lee Walthall, owner of Delta of Venus since 2001, and the announcement came from the cafe’s social media accounts.
“We’ve retired!” the venues’ Instagram post proclaimed. “Delta of Venus has closed its doors after an incredible 33-year run of food, drink, music, art, and friendship.”
Following the announcement, many from the Davis community came forward with fond memories of Delta of Venus. UC Davis alum Aaron Sikes shared his experience at the cafe during his time as an undergraduate.
“Open mics in the 90s, at the best ‘no decaf’ coffee shop in town,” Sikes said on social media via Reddit account Arthur_Frane. “Friends and family enjoying breakfast after WEF [Whole Earth Festival] Sunday night cleanup. We’re all wrecked but we cleaned up the quad and were saved by a mug of coffee and a DoV [Delta of Venus] scramble.”
Lecturer in the University Writing Program Dr. Andy O. Jones also took to social media to express his appreciation for Walthall and his years with the cafe.
“At Delta of Venus you find, often, students, sometimes graduate students, studying there, alongside retirees, people getting off work, etc,” Jones said in a YouTube video. “So Lee created a genuine third space where people of all sorts of affiliations and interests could get together and meet with one another.”
The consistent inclusion of all residents of the Davis community resulted in Walthall and Delta of Venus receiving the Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Award in the Community Group Category in 2025.
“Lee has improved the quality of life in the city of Davis for residents and visitors by elevating cultural awareness through socially conscious music and educational exhibits,” the City of Davis Human Relations Commission subcommittee recommendation for award read. “The musical and visual artists at Delta of Venus, have been inspiring, vibrant, culturally relevant, and responsive to the times and express messages of human solidarity.”
Delta of Venus’ many community events were a hallmark of the establishment in the last year. Delta of Venus hosted not only regular concerts, but also weekly crafting hours with Third Space Art Collective, movie nights and special events like a 1920s queer prom with Davis Drag Club.
“Delta of Venus has always been about the people who come together and share this space,” the venue’s retirement post said. “Thank you all so much for filling our lives with love, laughter, and memories that will last forever.”
Though Delta of Venus has closed its doors, the outpouring of love from the Davis community shows its legacy of arts, inclusion and eccentricity will live on.
Written by: Hannah Osborn— city@theaggie.org